KU’s Perry Ellis expected to miss a couple days with bruised neck

Kansas sophomore forward Perry Ellis is expected to be out a couple of days after going down in the second half. Ellis took what looked like a significant shot to the head while going up for a layup against Georgetown’s Nate Lubick. But KU coach Bill Self said Ellis actually suffered a bruised nerve in his neck.

Junior guard Naadir Tharpe hit a jumper that gave the Jayhawks a 27-24 lead; KU never trailed again.

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Key stat:

Tarik Black had 10 points.

Second half

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Key play:

KU’s Frank Mason hit fellow freshman Wayne Selden with a blind lob pass that turned into the highlight of the game in the closing minutes.

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Key stat:

The KU bench outscored Georgetown’s 33-15.

Injury will sideline for Ellis for a few days

Kansas sophomore forward Perry Ellis is expected to be out a couple of days after going down in the second half.

Ellis took what looked like a significant shot to the head while going up for a layup against Georgetown’s Nate Lubick. But KU coach Bill Self said Ellis actually suffered a bruised nerve in his neck.

Ellis stayed on the floor for a few moments before attempting to shoot his free throws. His first attempt missed badly to the left, and Ellis headed for the locker room while looking a little woozy.

“I’m not a doctor, so I don’t know the medical term,” Self said. “But if he had a concussion, it’s very, very, very slight. But what he did, he got hit and bruised a nerve in his neck. And that’s what caused the problem — and it’s something that he’ll be able to come back from in a very short period of time.”

Ellis finished with just five points and two rebounds while being limited to 12 minutes. With Kansas off for a few days for the Christmas holiday, Ellis should be fine for KU’s game against Toledo on Dec. 30 at Allen Fieldhouse.

“He got hit hard,” Self said, “and if he didn’t have a concussion, he certainly appeared that he did after his first free throw. But they said when it hits this nerve right there, it caused him not to have good equilibrium.”

• Sophomore wing Andrew White III missed his second straight game with a hip pointer. White suffered the injury while taking an elbow during practice on Dec. 12. Self said he wasn’t healthy enough to practice this week.

• Junior guard Naadir Tharpe finished with 10 points and four assists while making four of six shots against Georgetown, his second straight game back in the starting lineup. It was a little more impressive after Self revealed that Tharpe couldn’t practice much this week because he had a shoulder “stinger.”

• Georgetown’s John Thompson III, a coach who has had plenty of NBA big-man talent, was thoroughly impressed with KU freshman center Joel Embiid.

“He must be pretty smart, because he is getting better and better and better with each game,” Thompson said. “I think he has a chance to be a special player. He might be at that point already.”